Apparatus for improving golf putting acuracy

ABSTRACT

A golf putting apparatus that indicates a desired putting path and target. The apparatus includes near and far gates with crossbeams and tassels that hang from the crossbeams. The crossbeams hold the gates high enough such that the tassels do not touch the ground, and a golf ball rolls under the crossbeam without touching it. The near gate is located a first distance from a ball striking location, and the far gate is located a further distance from the ball striking location. A center tassel of the near gate can indicate a centerline of a desired putting path. Left and right tassels of the near gate can indicate edges of the desired putting path. A center tassel of the far gate can indicate the center of a putting target. Left and right tassels of the far gate can indicate edges of the putting target.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/039,745, filed Jun. 16, 2020, and entitled “APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING GOLF PUTTING ACCURACY”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to the sport of golf, and more specifically to an apparatus for improving a golfer's putting accuracy.

BACKGROUND

Golf is a popular sport but it can be technically demanding to become proficient. Learning correct techniques and consistency in using those techniques can lead to significant improvements in a golfer's performance and, accordingly, reductions in scores. To develop this consistency in using correct techniques it is beneficial for a golfer to repeatedly perform the desired technique over and over. This is why practice is such an important aspect of improving one's golf game.

Putting is only one aspect of the golf game, yet it accounts for nearly half of all golf strokes during a round of golf. The ability to accurately and consistently putt a golf ball is a very difficult skill to develop and maintain.

It would be desirable to have a golf putting training apparatus in which a putting stroke can be practiced repeatedly with immediate feedback as to the accuracy of the putting stroke to enable the golfer to learn the desired putting stroke and then develop consistency in repeating the desired putting stroke.

SUMMARY

An exemplary golf putting practice apparatus is disclosed that indicates a desired putting path and a desired putting target for a golf ball putted by a user from a ball striking location. The exemplary apparatus includes a near gate and a far gate. The near gate includes a crossbeam, a center tassel, a left tassel and a right tassel. The center, left and right tassels of the near gate hang from the crossbeam of the near gate. The far gate also includes a crossbeam, a center tassel, a left tassel and a right tassel. The center, left and right tassels of the far gate hang from the crossbeam of the far gate. The near gate is located a first distance from the ball striking location and the center tassel of the near gate indicates a centerline of the desired putting path. The far gate is located a second distance from the ball striking location and the center tassel of the far gate indicates a center of the desired putting target. The second distance is greater than the first distance. The near gate can also include a left pillar and a right pillar connected by the crossbeam of the near gate, where the left and right pillars of the near gate hold the crossbeam of the near gate high enough such that the center, left and right tassels of the near gate do not touch ground, and the golf ball rolls under the crossbeam of the near gate without touching the crossbeam of the near gate. The far gate can also include a left pillar and a right pillar connected by the crossbeam of the far gate, where the left and right pillars of the far gate hold the crossbeam of the far gate high enough such that the center, left and right tassels of the far gate do not touch ground, and the golf ball rolls under the crossbeam of the far gate without touching the crossbeam of the far gate.

The near gate can also include a left foot and a right foot, where the left foot is connected to a base of the left pillar of the near gate, and the right foot is connected to a base of the right pillar of the near gate. The far gate can also include a left foot and a right foot, where the left foot is connected to a base of the left pillar of the far gate, and the right foot is connected to a base of the right pillar of the far gate.

The left and right tassels of the near gate can be long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left and right tassels of the near gate. The center tassel of the near gate can be short enough to not touch the golf ball as it rolls under the center tassel of the near gate. The left, right and center tassels of the far gate can be long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left, right and center tassels of the far gate.

The crossbeam of the near gate can include a center opening, a left opening and a right opening, where the center tassel of the near gate hangs from the center opening, the left tassel of the near gate hangs from the left opening, and the right tassel of the near gate hangs from the right opening of the crossbeam of the near gate. The crossbeam of the far gate can include a center opening, a left opening and a right opening, where the center tassel of the far gate hangs from the center opening, the left tassel of the far gate hangs from the left opening, and the right tassel of the far gate hangs from the right opening of the crossbeam of the far gate. The center, left and right tassels of the near gate can swing freely in the center, left and right openings of the crossbeam of the near gate such that the center, left and right tassels of the near gate do not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball when it hits any of the center, left and right tassels of the near gate. The center, left and right tassels of the far gate can swing freely in the center, left and right openings of the crossbeam of the far gate such that the center, left and right tassels of the far gate do not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball when it hits any of the center, left and right tassels of the far gate. The crossbeam of the far gate can include a central portion that is visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam of the far gate and the width of the central portion of the crossbeam of the far gate can be equal to the width of a regulation hole on a golf putting green. The left and right openings of the crossbeam of the far gate can be located at the left and right ends, respectively, of the central portion of the far gate. The crossbeam of the near gate can include a central portion that is visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam of the near gate; and the center, left and right openings of the crossbeam of the near gate can be located within the central portion of the near gate.

The left and right tassels of the near gate can be separated by a near separation distance, and the left and right tassels of the near gate can be centered around the center tassel of the near gate. The left and right tassels of the far gate can be separated by a far separation distance, and the left and right tassels of the far gate can be centered around the center tassel of the far gate. The far separation distance between the left and right tassels of the far gate can be equal to the diameter of a regulation hole on a golf putting green, and the near separation distance between the left and right tassels of the near gate can be selected such that a golf ball that passes between the left and right tassels of the near gate will pass between the left and right tassels of the far gate. In an exemplary embodiment, the first distance from the ball striking location to the near gate can be two feet, and the second distance from the ball striking location to the far gate can be seven feet; and the near separation distance between the left and right tassels of the near gate can be 1.7 inches.

Another exemplary golf putting practice apparatus is disclosed that indicates a desired putting path and a desired putting target for a golf ball putted by a user from a ball striking location. The other exemplary apparatus includes a near gate and a far gate. The near gate includes a crossbeam, a left pillar, a right pillar, a left tassel and a right tassel, where the left and right tassels of the near gate hang from the crossbeam of the near gate, and the left and right pillars of the near gate are connected to the crossbeam of the near gate to hold the crossbeam of the near gate high enough such that the left and right tassels of the near gate do not touch the ground, and the golf ball rolls under the crossbeam of the near gate without touching the crossbeam of the near gate. The far gate includes a crossbeam, a left pillar, a right pillar, a center tassel, a left tassel and a right tassel, where the center, left and right tassels of the far gate hang from the crossbeam of the far gate, and the left and right pillars of the far gate are connected to the crossbeam of the far gate to hold the crossbeam of the far gate high enough such that the center, left and right tassels of the far gate do not touch the ground, and the golf ball rolls under the crossbeam of the far gate without touching the crossbeam of the far gate. The near gate is located a first distance from the ball striking location and the left and right tassels of the near gate indicate left and right edges of the desired putting path. The far gate is located a second distance from the ball striking location and the center tassel of the far gate indicates a center of the desired putting target. The second distance is greater than the first distance. The crossbeam of the far gate can include a central portion that is visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam of the far gate and the width of the central portion of the crossbeam of the far gate can be equal to the width of a regulation hole on a golf putting green. The left and right tassels of the near gate can be long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left and right tassels of the near gate. The left, right and center tassels of the far gate can be long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left, right and center tassels of the far gate. The left and right tassels of the near gate can swing freely from the crossbeam of the near gate such that the left and right tassels of the near gate do not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball when it hits any of the left and right tassels of the near gate. The center, left and right tassels of the far gate can swing freely from the crossbeam of the far gate such that the center, left and right tassels of the far gate do not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball when it hits any of the center, left and right tassels of the far gate. A far separation distance between the left and right tassels of the far gate can be equal to the diameter of a regulation hole on a golf putting green, and a near separation distance between the left and right tassels of the near gate can be selected such that a golf ball that passes between the left and right tassels of the near gate will pass between the left and right tassels of the far gate. The first distance from the ball striking location to the near gate can be two feet, and the second distance from the ball striking location to the far gate can be seven feet, and the near separation distance between the left and right tassels of the near gate can be 1.7 inches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary golf putting practice apparatus configured to improve a golfer's putting accuracy which includes a near gate and a far gate for putting a golf ball through;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the near gate; and

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the far gate over an optional golf hole.

Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary golf putting practice apparatus configured to improve a golfer's putting accuracy which includes a pair of generally arch-shaped gates 100, 150 for putting a golf ball 30 through. The apparatus can be positioned on a putting surface 10 which can be a carpet, artificial turf, real grass, putting green or other desired surface. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the near gate 100, and FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the far gate 150. The far gate 150 is located at the location of a golf hole or cup 20, real or imaginary, that is the size of a cup on a golf putting green. The near gate 100 is located a first selected distance from the initial ball striking position, from where the golf ball 30 is hit, and the far gate 150 is located a second selected distance from where the golf ball 30 is hit.

The near gate 100 include a left pillar 102, a right pillar 104 and a crossbeam 106 that connects the pillars 102, 104. The near gate 100 can also include a left foot 142 and a right foot 144 to help stabilize the near gate 100. The left foot 142 can be connected to the base of the left pillar 102, and the right foot 144 can be connected to the base of the right pillar 104. The crossbeam 106 includes a central portion 110 that can be visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam 106. The central portion 110 can be the width of a regulation cup or hole 20 on a golf putting green, which is 4.25 inches. The near gate 100 can include a center tassel 120, a left edge tassel 122, and a right edge tassel 124. The tassels 120, 122, 124 can hang from openings 130, 132, 134, respectively, where the openings 130, 132, 134 are in the crossbeam 106. The center tassel 120 indicates the center of the central portion 110 of the crossbeam 106, and the desired centerline for the path of the golf ball 30. The center tassel 120 can be short enough to not touch the top of the golf ball 30 as it rolls under the center tassel 120. The edge tassels 122, 124 can indicate the left and right edges of the desired path of the golf ball 30. The edge tassels 122, 124 can be a set distance apart from one another and centered about the center tassel 120. The edge tassels 122, 124 can be long enough to touch the golf ball 30 as it rolls under one of the edge tassels 122, 124. The tassels 120, 122, 124 should swing freely so as to not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball 30. The openings 130, 132, 134 in the crossbeam 106 can be sized to allow the tassels 120, 122, 124 to swing freely so as to not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball 30 if it hits one of the tassels 120, 122, 124. The edge tassels 122, 124 are inside the edges of the central portion 110 of the crossbeam 106. The edge tassels 122, 124 are set at a selected distance apart so that rolling the putt between these two tassels 122, 124 should make the golf ball 30 be completely within the diameter of the golf hole 20 when it reaches the far gate 150.

The far gate 150 includes a left pillar 152, a right pillar 154 and a crossbeam 156 that connects the pillars 152, 154. The far gate 150 can also include a left foot 192 and a right foot 194 to help stabilize the far gate 150. The left foot 192 can be connected to the base of the left pillar 152, and the right foot 194 can be connected to the base of the right pillar 154. The crossbeam 156 includes a central portion 160 that can be visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam 156. The central portion 160 can be the width of the hole 20 on a golf putting green. The far gate 150 can include a center tassel 170, a left edge tassel 172, and a right edge tassel 174. The tassels 170, 172, 174 can hang from openings 180, 182, 184, respectively, where the openings 180, 182, 184 are in the crossbeam 156. The center tassel 170 indicates the center of the central portion 160 of the crossbeam 156, as well as the center of the cup 20. The center tassel 170 can be long enough to touch the golf ball 30 as it rolls under the center tassel 170 to indicate that the golf ball 30 hit the center of the cup 20. The edge tassels 172, 174 can be located at the edges of the central portion 160 of the crossbeam 156 which indicates the edges of the cup 20. The edge tassels 172, 174 can be long enough to touch the golf ball 30 as it rolls under one of the edge tassels 172, 174 to indicate that the ball 30 hit the edge of the cup 20. The tassels 170, 172, 174 should swing freely so as to not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball 30. The openings 180, 182, 184 in the crossbeam 156 can be sized to allow the tassels 170, 172, 174 to swing freely so as to not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball 30 if it hits one of the tassels 170, 172, 174. The golf ball 30 preferably rolls between the edge tassels 172, 174 without touching them to indicate that the full width of the golf ball 30 rolled over the hole 20.

The embodiments shown of the near gate 100 and the far gate 150 illustrate use of physical tassels to indicate position/path of the golf ball 30. Alternatively, battery or solar powered electronic sensors could be placed at the desired tassel positions on the gates 100, 150 where a sensor activates an indicator light if the golf ball 30 is detected by that sensor.

In an exemplary setup where the near gate 100 is located approximately 2 feet from where the golf ball 30 is hit, and the far gate 150 is located approximately 7 feet from where the golf ball 30 is hit the positioning of the tassels can be as follows. For the near gate 100, the edge tassels 122, 124 can be separated by the width of a golf ball (about 1.68 inches) plus the width of a dime (about 0.705 inches) which places the edge tassels 122, 124 about 2.385 inches apart, and the center tassel 120 can be at the center of this distance. For the far gate 150, the edge tassels 172, 174 can be at the opposite edges of the golf hole 20 (real or imaginary), and the center tassel 120 can be at the center of this golf hole 20. Hitting a putt to roll between the two edge tassels 122, 124 of the near gate 100 should make the golf ball 30 be completely within the diameter of the golf hole 20 when it is located at the far gate 150, which means the golf ball 30 should roll between the edge tassels 172, 174 of the far gate 150 which is 5 feet beyond the near gate 100. In another exemplary setup where the far gate 150 is located approximately 12 feet from where the golf ball 30 is hit (10 feet from the near gate 100), two-thirds of a golf ball 30 that passes between the two edge tassels 122, 124 of the near gate 100 should roll over the hole 20 as indicated by the edge tassels 176 and 178 of the far gate 150 which would be a made putt at the proper speed.

The putting apparatus enables the user to hit a multitude of putts without having to move or change position which can help develop consistency. The putting gates 100, 150 can be wide enough that most if not all of the putts will miss the pillars 102, 104, 152, 154 on the gates 100, 150, which enables the user to hit successive putts without having to stop and reset the gates 100, 150. The tassels 120-124, 170-174 also allow golf balls to hit them and move through without impacting the line that the ball is traveling, and they provide feedback on the accuracy of the putt through the gates 100, 150. The gates 100, 150 allow the golfer to work continually on their putting stroke thru a multitude of successive golf balls without moving, while supplying immediate feedback on misses or makes. The user can experiment with differing elements of a putting stroke and get immediate feedback on an individual putt or a large sample of putts. Putting technique components include, for example, ball position, foot alignment, weight distribution on left or right legs, tempo of putting stroke, perfecting a shoulders only stroke, wrist angle throughout the stoke, etc. The apparatus can come with a list of putting technique components that can be tried by the user/golfer.

Additional tassels and associated openings for the tassels can also be added to the near gate 100 to indicate locations of a golf ball relative to a desired putting line. For example, a pair of tassels and openings can be placed outside of the location of edge tassels 122, 124 (but still centered about center tassel 120) for initial use until the user achieves greater proficiency and consistency, then the narrower spacing of tassels 122, 124 can be used to increase proficiency. FIG. 2 shows exemplary outer edge tassels 222, 224 (dashed) hanging from holes 232, 234 in the crossbeam 106. The near gate 100 can have both the inner edge tassels 122, 124 and the outer edge tassels 222, 224, or holes for both sets of tassels but use only one set of tassels at a time. For example, start with the tassels hanging from holes 232, 234 to serve as beginner outer edge tassels 222, 224; and as proficiency improves move the tassels to hang from holes 132, 134 to serve as improved inner edge tassels 122, 124. The near gate 100 can also include openings in the crossbeam 106 for tassels to hang at the near gate tassel positions 120, 122, 124 and also openings in the crossbeam 106 for tassels to hang at the far gate tassel positions 170, 172, 174 so the tassels can simply be moved and the gate can function as a near gate 100 or a far gate 150.

Additional tassels and associated openings for the tassels can also be added to the far gate 150 to indicate locations of a golf ball relative to the hole 20. Also, the far gate 150 can be placed at different distances from where the golf ball 30 is hit and the tassel and opening positions can be adjusted accordingly. The far gate 150 can include openings in the crossbeam 156 for tassels to hang at the far gate tassel positions 170, 172, 174 and also openings in the crossbeam 156 for tassels to hang at the near gate tassel positions 120, 122, 124 so the tassels can simply be moved and the gate can function as a far gate 150 or a near gate 100.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative embodiment(s) have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A golf putting practice apparatus configured to indicate a desired putting path and a desired putting target for a golf ball putted by a user from a ball striking location, the apparatus comprising: a near gate that includes a crossbeam, a center tassel, a left tassel and a right tassel, where the center, left and right tassels of the near gate hang from the crossbeam of the near gate; and a far gate that includes a crossbeam, a center tassel, a left tassel and a right tassel, where the center, left and right tassels of the far gate hang from the crossbeam of the far gate; wherein the near gate is located a first distance from the ball striking location and the center tassel of the near gate indicates a centerline of the desired putting path; and wherein the far gate is located a second distance from the ball striking location and the center tassel of the far gate indicates a center of the desired putting target; and the second distance is greater than the first distance.
 2. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the near gate further comprises a left pillar and a right pillar connected by the crossbeam of the near gate; and the far gate further comprises a left pillar and a right pillar connected by the crossbeam of the far gate; wherein the left and right pillars of the near gate hold the crossbeam of the near gate high enough such that the center, left and right tassels of the near gate do not touch ground, and the golf ball rolls under the crossbeam of the near gate without touching the crossbeam of the near gate; and wherein the left and right pillars of the far gate hold the crossbeam of the far gate high enough such that the center, left and right tassels of the far gate do not touch ground, and the golf ball rolls under the crossbeam of the far gate without touching the crossbeam of the far gate.
 3. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the near gate further comprises a left foot and a right foot, where the left foot is connected to a base of the left pillar of the near gate, and the right foot is connected to a base of the right pillar of the near gate; and the far gate further comprises a left foot and a right foot, where the left foot is connected to a base of the left pillar of the far gate, and the right foot is connected to a base of the right pillar of the far gate.
 4. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein the crossbeam of the far gate includes a central portion that is visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam of the far gate and the width of the central portion of the crossbeam of the far gate is equal to the width of a regulation hole on a golf putting green.
 5. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein the left and right tassels of the near gate are separated by a near separation distance, and the left and right tassels of the near gate are centered around the center tassel of the near gate; and wherein the left and right tassels of the far gate are separated by a far separation distance, and the left and right tassels of the far gate are centered around the center tassel of the far gate.
 6. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 5, wherein the left and right tassels of the near gate are long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left and right tassels of the near gate.
 7. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 6, wherein the center tassel of the near gate is short enough to not touch the golf ball as it rolls under the center tassel of the near gate.
 8. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 5, wherein the left, right and center tassels of the far gate are long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left, right and center tassels of the far gate.
 9. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 5, wherein the left and right tassels of the near gate are long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left and right tassels of the near gate; and wherein the left, right and center tassels of the far gate are long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left, right and center tassels of the far gate.
 10. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 9, wherein the crossbeam of the near gate includes a center opening, a left opening and a right opening, where the center tassel of the near gate hangs from the center opening, the left tassel of the near gate hangs from the left opening, and the right tassel of the near gate hangs from the right opening of the crossbeam of the near gate; and wherein the crossbeam of the far gate includes a center opening, a left opening and a right opening, where the center tassel of the far gate hangs from the center opening, the left tassel of the far gate hangs from the left opening, and the right tassel of the far gate hangs from the right opening of the crossbeam of the far gate.
 11. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 10, wherein the center, left and right tassels of the near gate swing freely in the center, left and right openings of the crossbeam of the near gate such that the center, left and right tassels of the near gate do not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball when it hits any of the center, left and right tassels of the near gate; and wherein the center, left and right tassels of the far gate swing freely in the center, left and right openings of the crossbeam of the far gate such that the center, left and right tassels of the far gate do not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball when it hits any of the center, left and right tassels of the far gate.
 12. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 11, wherein the far separation distance between the left and right tassels of the far gate is equal to the diameter of a regulation hole on a golf putting green, and the near separation distance between the left and right tassels of the near gate is selected such that a golf ball that passes between the left and right tassels of the near gate will pass between the left and right tassels of the far gate.
 13. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first distance from the ball striking location to the near gate is two feet, and the second distance from the ball striking location to the far gate is seven feet; and wherein the near separation distance between the left and right tassels of the near gate is 1.7 inches.
 14. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 13, wherein the crossbeam of the near gate includes a central portion that is visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam of the near gate, and wherein the center, left and right openings of the crossbeam of the near gate are located within the central portion of the near gate; and wherein the crossbeam of the far gate includes a central portion that is visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam of the far gate and the width of the central portion of the crossbeam of the far gate is equal to the width of a regulation hole on a golf putting green; and wherein the left and right openings of the crossbeam of the far gate are located at the left and right ends, respectively, of the central portion of the far gate.
 15. A golf putting practice apparatus configured to indicate a desired putting path and a desired putting target for a golf ball putted by a user from a ball striking location, the apparatus comprising: a near gate that includes a crossbeam, a left pillar, a right pillar, a left tassel and a right tassel, where the left and right tassels of the near gate hang from the crossbeam of the near gate, and the left and right pillars of the near gate are connected to the crossbeam of the near gate to hold the crossbeam of the near gate high enough such that the left and right tassels of the near gate do not touch the ground, and the golf ball rolls under the crossbeam of the near gate without touching the crossbeam of the near gate; a far gate that includes a crossbeam, a left pillar, a right pillar, a center tassel, a left tassel and a right tassel, where the center, left and right tassels of the far gate hang from the crossbeam of the far gate, and the left and right pillars of the far gate are connected to the crossbeam of the far gate to hold the crossbeam of the far gate high enough such that the center, left and right tassels of the far gate do not touch the ground, and the golf ball rolls under the crossbeam of the far gate without touching the crossbeam of the far gate; wherein the near gate is located a first distance from the ball striking location and the left and right tassels of the near gate indicate left and right edges of the desired putting path; and wherein the far gate is located a second distance from the ball striking location and the center tassel of the far gate indicates a center of the desired putting target; and the second distance is greater than the first distance.
 16. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 15, wherein the crossbeam of the far gate includes a central portion that is visibly distinguishable from the rest of the crossbeam of the far gate and the width of the central portion of the crossbeam of the far gate is equal to the width of a regulation hole on a golf putting green.
 17. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 16, wherein the left and right tassels of the near gate are long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left and right tassels of the near gate; and wherein the left, right and center tassels of the far gate are long enough to touch the golf ball as it rolls under one of the left, right and center tassels of the far gate.
 18. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 17, wherein the left and right tassels of the near gate swing freely from the crossbeam of the near gate such that the left and right tassels of the near gate do not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball when it hits any of the left and right tassels of the near gate; and wherein the center, left and right tassels of the far gate swing freely from the crossbeam of the far gate such that the center, left and right tassels of the far gate do not interfere with the direction or speed of the golf ball when it hits any of the center, left and right tassels of the far gate.
 19. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 18, wherein a far separation distance between the left and right tassels of the far gate is equal to the diameter of a regulation hole on a golf putting green, and a near separation distance between the left and right tassels of the near gate is selected such that a golf ball that passes between the left and right tassels of the near gate will pass between the left and right tassels of the far gate.
 20. The golf putting practice apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first distance from the ball striking location to the near gate is two feet, and the second distance from the ball striking location to the far gate is seven feet; and wherein the near separation distance between the left and right tassels of the near gate is 1.7 inches. 